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Hardware Courses Online

Understand computer hardware principles for building and repairing systems. Learn about CPUs, GPUs, memory, and storage devices.

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Explore the Hardware Course Catalog

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    I

    IBM

    Introduction to Hardware and Operating Systems

    Skills you'll gain: Peripheral Devices, Computer Hardware, System Configuration, Virtualization and Virtual Machines, Computer Systems, Virtual Machines, Operating Systems, USB, Hardware Troubleshooting, Computing Platforms, Linux, Software Installation, Technical Support, Mac OS, Computer Architecture, File Systems, Network Infrastructure, Data Storage, User Accounts, Disaster Recovery

    4.7
    Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
    ·
    2K reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of California, Irvine

    Computer Hardware and Software

    Skills you'll gain: Network Security, Computer Hardware, Hardware Architecture, Computer Systems, TCP/IP, Information Technology, General Networking, Computer Literacy, Network Protocols, Operating Systems, System Configuration, Software Installation, Computer Networking, File Systems

    4.5
    Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
    ·
    206 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: New
    New
    Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    P

    Pearson

    A+ Core 2 V15 - Pearson Cert Prep

    Skills you'll gain: Mobile Security, Operating System Administration, Microsoft Windows, Malware Protection, Information Technology Operations, Disaster Recovery, Mac OS, Document Management, Command-Line Interface, Incident Response, Network Security, Linux, Information Systems Security, Security Controls, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Windows PowerShell, Problem Management, Operating Systems, Internet Of Things

    Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: New
    New
    Status: Preview
    Preview
    B

    Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani

    Operating Systems

    Skills you'll gain: Operating Systems, OS Process Management, System Programming, File Systems, Unix Commands, Command-Line Interface, System Monitoring, System Design and Implementation, Performance Tuning, Package and Software Management, File Management, Algorithms, Cloud Platforms, Security Controls, User Accounts, Debugging

    Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

  • U

    University of Colorado Boulder

    Embedded Software and Hardware Architecture

    Skills you'll gain: Embedded Software, Embedded Systems, Debugging, Data Structures, System Programming, Microarchitecture, C (Programming Language), Hardware Architecture, Computer Architecture, Integrated Development Environments, Software Design, Maintainability, System Configuration, Development Environment, Peripheral Devices

    4.5
    Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
    ·
    526 reviews

    Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • U

    University of Maryland, College Park

    Hardware Security

    Skills you'll gain: Hardware Design, Security Engineering, Computer Hardware, Hardware Architecture, Threat Modeling, Threat Detection, Cybersecurity, Vulnerability Assessments, Application Specific Integrated Circuits, Exploit development, Cryptography, Systems Design, Encryption, Exploitation techniques, Technical Design, Emerging Technologies

    4.3
    Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
    ·
    690 reviews

    Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months

What brings you to Coursera today?

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of Colorado Boulder

    Hardware Description Languages for FPGA Design

    Skills you'll gain: Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Hardware Design, Technical Design, Electronics Engineering, Electronic Hardware, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Test Case, Verification And Validation, Functional Design, Embedded Systems, Computer Engineering, Simulation and Simulation Software, Functional Testing

    4.4
    Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
    ·
    609 reviews

    Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: Free
    Free
    P

    Princeton University

    Computer Architecture

    Skills you'll gain: Microarchitecture, Computer Architecture, Hardware Architecture, Computer Systems, Computer Engineering, Systems Architecture, Operating Systems, Performance Tuning, Scalability

    4.7
    Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
    ·
    3.7K reviews

    Advanced · Course · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    Status: AI skills
    AI skills
    G

    Google

    Google IT Support

    Skills you'll gain: IT Security Architecture, Computer Networking, Operating System Administration, Package and Software Management, Network Troubleshooting, Systems Administration, IT Infrastructure, TCP/IP, Network Security, File Systems, Microsoft Windows, Computer Security, Lightweight Directory Access Protocols, Cloud Management, Computer Hardware, Technical Support, Software Installation, Interviewing Skills, Professional Development, Google Gemini

    Build toward a degree

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    208K reviews

    Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    J

    Johns Hopkins University

    Raspberry Pi Projects

    Skills you'll gain: Hardware Design, Electronic Hardware, Schematic Diagrams, Electronics, Computer-Aided Design, Mechanical Design, Communication Systems, Remote Access Systems, 3D Modeling, Linux, Digital Communications, Serial Peripheral Interface, Electronic Components, Simulation and Simulation Software, Electrical Engineering, Web Applications, Internet Of Things, Systems Of Measurement, Data Processing, Data Science

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    92 reviews

    Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    D

    Dell

    Dell Technologies Technical Support for Hardware

    Skills you'll gain: Hardware Troubleshooting, Desktop Support, Computer Hardware, Digital Transformation, Technical Support, System Support, Networking Hardware, Servers, Network Security, Network Infrastructure, IT Infrastructure, Data Storage Technologies, Data Storage

    4.9
    Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
    ·
    16 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    M

    Microsoft

    Introduction to Computers

    Skills you'll gain: Business Software, Computer Hardware, Generative AI, Operating Systems, Data Storage Technologies, Computer Systems, Data Maintenance, Enterprise Security, System Software, Information Technology, Computer Architecture, Data Storage, System Configuration, Technical Support and Services, Microsoft Windows, Servers, Cybersecurity

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    905 reviews

    Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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In summary, here are 10 of our most popular hardware courses

  • Introduction to Hardware and Operating Systems: IBM
  • Computer Hardware and Software: University of California, Irvine
  • A+ Core 2 V15 - Pearson Cert Prep: Pearson
  • Operating Systems: Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani
  • Embedded Software and Hardware Architecture: University of Colorado Boulder
  • Hardware Security: University of Maryland, College Park
  • Hardware Description Languages for FPGA Design: University of Colorado Boulder
  • Computer Architecture: Princeton University
  • Google IT Support: Google
  • Raspberry Pi Projects: Johns Hopkins University

Frequently Asked Questions about Hardware

When it comes to Computing, hardware refers to the physical parts of a device that users interact with such as a keyboard, hard drive, or monitor. This is in contrast to software, which are the operating systems, applications, and other virtual computing programs that help users carry out tasks.

Hardware can be created and manufactured by big tech names, such as Microsoft or Apple, or by hobbyists and smaller companies using Arduino, embedded-systems software, and other tools. Learning about hardware is important to making computer-based technologies functional for our everyday lives, as well as critical for maintaining and repairing them.‎

Given the many applications of hardware studies—from security, to product design, to the IoT—jobs in hardware are varied depending on whatever specialty learners want to explore.

Opportunities in Computer Hardware Engineering in particular can expect their field to grow a steady five percent through 2026—as fast as average. However, Engineers going the IoT route can expect to enter a market estimated to reach a value of USD 1256.1 billion by 2025. Related roles that can enjoy this lucrative market include Embedded Systems Engineer, Raspberry Pi Developer, Arduino Developer, and others.‎

Hardware courses offered through Coursera equip learners with knowledge in hardware description languages such as VHDL and Verilog; design methods; embedded architectures; software that can manipulate hardware; 3D printing hardware; IoT applications; hardware security; and more.

Lessons on hardware are taught by instructors from major tech names and universities, including University of Colorado, University of Illinois, EIT Digital, University of Maryland, and other organizations. Learners can enjoy exploring hardware with instructors specializing in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Mathematics, and other disciplines. Course content on hardware is delivered via video lectures, hands-on projects, readings, quizzes, and other types of assignments.‎

The skills and experience you might need to already have before starting to learn hardware are understanding the basics of how software and hardware intersect in devices, computers, operating systems, embedded systems, and assorted data structures. You might want to have some engineering aspects in your background and skills or work experience in hardware components and operating systems. You might be familiar with how embedded devices are impacting manufacturing in the Internet of Things, and you might want to also know about wireless sensor networks.‎

The kind of people best suited for roles in hardware are mainly people who are interested in computers, are technologically oriented, or have an engineering or computer science background, gained either in online courses, internships, or on-the-job training. Understanding hardware is for those who want to know about physical components, like computers, monitors, peripherals, 3D printing equipment, and embedded systems. The people best suited for roles in hardware may also likely have knowledge of programming languages like Java, Python, C, C+, and Verilog, key languages for computer engineers.‎

Common career paths for someone in hardware are generally working for a technology company, manufacturing firms, or even a large institution like a college university or online distribution service. You may start either in software or hardware environments and then extend your background of engineering skills or computer science skills to move into areas of installation and maintenance of computers, servers, circuit boards, routers, printers, and similar areas.‎

Some of the topics related to hardware that you can study include machine learning, cloud networks, systems architecture, network security, computer maintenance, and data storage. These topics may bring a fuller understanding to you when trying to tackle all the information available about hardware for computers and devices. When learning about hardware, you could spend equal amounts of time studying these and other topics related to the computer and system machinery industries.‎

Online Hardware courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Hardware skills. Choose from a wide range of Hardware courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Hardware, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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